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Yes, we are interested! We have been hanging out off and on in the 2017 class but our target date to leave is June 2018 or even a little later depending on how things wrap up here. We have been planning and slowly implementing about 2 years now, so the thought of having been at this for 20 years is unreal!!! Current plan is to work on the house this winter and sell in the spring, move to a year round campground locally( in the COLD Midwest!!!) and save save save to add to the cushion before retirement date. We have our full timing rig and tow truck already and have been updating and cosmetically improving our 2004 Newmar Mountain Air 5er which is way more fun than even THINKING about working on the house!

There is so much work to be done and we have so much stuff yet to get rid of it is overwhelming! 2nd garage sale of this year is happening in October, but first...... It's off to the Lake for a week in September.

Thanks for starting the thread, and Boonhauler, we have been following your build, what an undertaking!

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Well, I'm glad to see that I didn't start this too early. I've been patiently waiting for someone else to pull the trigger and finally gave up on the waiting game. Yes, 20 years is a long time but we've been talking about it, drooling over various rigs etc. for at least that long. We started looking at 5th wheels and have over the years settled on looking at 43' diesel pushers. It is too bad Life on Wheels has gone by the way because we really liked attending one of those in Tucson a few years back. Just can't wait for the next three years to roll by so that the real fun can begin.

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We are planning for early retirement and going fulltime in 2018. Only wrinkle that could delay the plan is what will options and cost for pre-medicare healthcare be like in three years. I'm worried it will north of 2k a month. With that said, currently in learning mode and having fun figureing out what we want have as our house on wheels when the time comes.

We've already changed our mindset and now look at every purchase with the question "Will we take it with us when go full time?"

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Yesterday I read the entire Class of 2017 thread and debated joining but I'm not sure where we belong. It might be 2018 so I wanted to say hi to you and follow both 2017 and 2018 until I can narrow it down a little. We have a business to sell and our house is part of the business so lots depends on when we can get everything ready and how quickly it all sells. This winter we plan to begin thinning out some of our stuff and we have lot of that. We'll also work on preparing our house for sale. That's a big job and that's why we don't have a date set yet. 2017 sounds good but I think 2018 is more realistic. Until then, I won't join either class but I'll follow both threads.

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DD, her husband and 4 grandchildren live with us while they are completing Nursing School. They will both graduate December 2017. While it is a joy to have them with us, DW home schools the grandkids, maintains the home and helps with the farm.

Our current plan is to start 2018 by decluttering our sticks and bricks and preparation for sale.

We purchased a used rig July 2015 and initiated bringing all the maintenance current...a large and costly endeavor. I am pleased we have our future full time rig now so we have the time to get it the way we want before hitting the road.

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Sign me (us) up!! We'll be ready to go somewhere between Spring and Fall, 2018. Looking at a different rigs, attending shows, visiting dealers, etc. I'm sure the RV sales guys hate us because we aren't immediate buyers and are just wasting their time, but I can't do my homework without wasting someone's time, so it will continue!!

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Welcome to the club. I'm sure the salesman hate me to for the same reason. What I hate is a salesman who doesn't know his product. It's sad when it is clear that I know more about it than they do. Perhaps they should go back to selling used cars. It seems rare to find a salesman that understands the needs of a full timer.

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We too are planning spring of 18. I will retire in October of 17 and my DH in Dec of 17 or April of 18. So spring 18 is the time to hit the road. We recently purchased a 2013 DRV 39 ft Tradition fifth wheel and diesel truck. We have been taking camper out on weekends to practice pulling and parking, as well as getting the hang of things. We have made many trips to stores to get the items needed. We will be traveling with our dogs and they are getting accustomed to new sleeping arrangements! Also starting process of getting house ready to sell, so there are piles of items to donate to work, to goodwill, an to sell. Oh the decisions to be made! So many details. Look forward to reading other stories.

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As with a few others I was a Class of 2017'er up until a few months ago when I realized that my timetable just wasn't workable. So now the new jump-off date is April 2nd, 2018!! This time I've gone through my numbers with a fine tooth comb and I am very confident that this is a firm date.

The fifth wheel purchase is slated for somewhere in early to mid-2017 so that we will have time to get to know it and get outfitted. I am really excited to get this adventure underway!!

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We're definitely interested in a class of 2018 thread; though not sure if we're 2017 or 2018; 2018 is probably more realistic. We've started getting rid of junk (so much junk!!) and readying the house for sell. We're in the SF bay area- I'm concerned we're in a bit of a housing bubble, so trying to figure out the best timing to sell the house, not sure yet if it's next spring or wait till the following year. We've been heavily researching 5vrs, trying to decide between used and new.

Just got back from the Pomona RV show- one trick I learned with salesmen- just tell them up front that you're doing research, not ready till next year. Many of them are still happy to talk, but many will take off- which is fine by me; we usually know a lot more about the units than they do;)

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Been a long time since we have posted.... still not sure which class we belong in. Retirement is not until mid 2018 but we have been fulltiming (living- not travelling) in our 5th wheel since May. We had 2 HUGE garage sales and thought we sold the house before fixing it up to a couple who wanted to buy the property "as is" and got a nice discount for the convenience to us. Unfortunately they were unable to sell their house within the contract and opted out at the end of it. So after enjoying 2 months in a campground we had to move back home into the drive way to work non stop on the house, doing all the things we could have done 60 days sooner.

The remodel took another 2 months after which we moved back to the campground and put the house on the market. That was 3 weeks ago and we are anxiously waiting to sell so we can be debt free and able to save a lot of money while we look forward to hitting the road mid 2018.

Meanwhile at the campground we have been busy prepping for a midwest winter stay. If we freeze it won't be bc we were stupid and didn't research and implement methods to keep warm and our lines from freezing! Will update periodically if anyone is interested.

Maybe NEXT summer we can ride bikes, fish, hike and kayak again without that S and B to tend!!!

Bill and Patti

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I would love to throw my hat into the ring. The "Boss" and I are planning on pulling the sticks and bricks pin about August of 2018 and hit the road in a motorhome. Think it would never be too early to start learning, making plans, and meeting our "classmates"......

Jeff and Diane

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Welcome Jeff and Diane. I'm glad you joined us in the Class of 2918. We should be hitting the road about the same time as you. I retire on September 1, 2018 but will have several weeks of vacation that I need to take prior to retirement so we actually plan to leave around the second week of July. This may sound strange but we are from the West coast and currently living on the East coast. Our plans are to start out with a Fall Colors Tour in New England.

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I've been "retired" from the JOB since 2002 but almost immediately started driving a school bus for the local schools (by the way, this is a GREAT job for retirees.. off week-ends, off holidays and off ALL summer.... $20 an hour, work about 4 hours a day (actually driving about 1 1/2) and the option to be paid year around. And, they train you for free... look into it!). I will officially retire again at the end of the school year 2018. We are currently playing the "down sizing game" and getting house ready for sale. Probably get a tiny storage garage to put some stuff in until we're sure this is for us. That fall colors tour sounds great. We did a Northeast tour last year in the fall during break and it was amazing. All these years and we're just now starting to see and appreciate what has always been there for the viewing. Thinking of joining the Escapee's.... see you're a member, Walt. What do you think of it???